Refrigerator



Jan. 7, 1936. D, H, GASTON 2,027,313

y REFRIGERATOR Filed June 14, 1935 lrwvertor: Donald Hfstorw,

Patented 7, 1936 nFnrGEnA'ron.

Donald H. Gaston, Forty Wayne, Ind., assigner to l General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Appuation June 14, 1935, serial No. 26,569 1o (ci. ca -116) My invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to an arrangement for minimizing the transfer of heatfrom an accumulator or re'-V ceiver located adjacent the top of a refrigerator cooling compartment to the compartment'.

Manyy types of refrigerators and particularly those designed for domestic use are provided with a cabinet having a cooling compartment therein located just below the top wall of the cabinet. The cooling. compartment` is ordirarily cooled by a refrigerant evaporator in which liquid refriger-V ant is vaporized by the transfer of heat thereto from the contents ofthe cooling compartment. The liquid refrigerant is frequently supplied toy the evaporator, especially when the latter is of the hooded type. from an accumulator or receiver located above the level of the evaporator, in such case, diihcultyhas been encountered in 1 providing a suitable location for the accumulator which contains relatively hot liquid refrigerant since the proximity of the top of the cooling comlpartment to the top of the cabinet limits the ,availablespace therebetween.

'it is an object of myv invention to provide a refrigerator of the typeidescribed having a cooling compartment, a liquid refrigerant accum-v ulator or receiver loated adjacent the top of the compartment and an improved and simplified arrangement for minimizing the flow of heat from the accumulator to the interior of the compartment.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following deseription proceeds and the features of novelty which char terize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming` a part of this specication.

For a better understanding of my invention, referencemay be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. L1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of a refrigerator embodying my'invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the top plate of the inner liner of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1, the cover and insulation being removed; Fig, 3 is aperspective View ofV a rubber boot which surrounds the float valve chamber of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the top plate of the liner oithe refrigeratorshown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified form of top plate and exible heat insulating casing, which may be used in the refrigeratorl shown-in Fig. 1. f

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I have shown the upper portion of a refrigerator of the domestic type provided with a cabinet having outer walls which are formed by a rectangular open top steel shell I0. An inner rectangular open top steel-shell II forms the side walls of acooling compartment I2. The inner and outer side 5 walls I0 and II thus formed are separated by heat insulation I3 and ther front walls thereof are provided with registering apertures forming a door opening which is closed by a heat insulated door I4. The top wall of the cabinet is 10 formed by a rectangular sheet metal top plate I5 and a rectangular sheet metal cover I6 which are separated by heat insulation I`l.\ The top plate I5 rests on a peripheral inturned ange I8 which extends about the opening formed in the 15 top of the inner liner I I. The edge of the insulation I3 surrounding the opening in the top of the inner liner II is `covered by a band of cloth |30. The cover I6 rests on a rectangular rubber gasket I9 which extends about the top 2o of an upstanding peripheral flange 20 formed at the upper edge of the outer shell IB. A downwardly extending yperipheral flange 2l extends entirely about the edge of the cover l5 and the 'front and rear portions thereof are provided with 25 inwardly extending portions22 and 23 which rest on the horizontal top portions 24 and 25 respectively of the outer shell l0. The inwardly extending portion 22 of the cover I6 is pressed against the top portion 24 of the shell ,I'by a4 30 resilient spring clip 26, the rear end of which is secured by a bolt 2l to the top portion 24 of the shell I0. The rear portion of the cover it is secured to the cabinet by a strap 28; the -upper' end of which is secured to the rear portion 35 of the ange 2| on the. cover i6 by a screw 23 and the lower end of which is secured to the rear wall of the shell III by a screw 30.

The compartment, I2.'` is cooled by a. sheet metal evaporator 3I of the iiooded type which is Iormedvl of inner and outer sheets of metal 32 and 33 respectively, the outer sheet 33 being provided with a series `of indentations 34 or corrugations therein which provide refrigerant' circulatory passages 35 extending about the walls of the evaporator. The 45 refrigerant circulatory passages 35vcommunicate with a longitudinal header 36 having a. cylindrical l cross section formed by complementary indentations in the sheets 32 and 33, the passages 354 com`A municating with the header 36 below the level of the liquid refrigerant therein. 'I'he upper edges K of the sheets 32 and 33 arebent inwardlyto form a flange 32a which is secured to the top liner I5 by bolts 33a, thus supporting th'e evaporator 3l v on the lower side of the top liner II.

Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 3|v from a refrigerant accumulator or receiver which in the illustrative form of my invention is a float valve casing 31. The float valve casing 5 31 is supported in an aperture 38, formed in the rear edge of the top liner I5, by straps 33'and 40 which extend about the float valve casing 31 and are secured in firm engagement therewith by machine screws 4| and 42. As shown in Fig. 2, the

strap 39 is somewhat longer than the strap 40 and the ends thereof are provided with horizontal brackets 43 and 44 which are secured by bolts 45 and 48 respectively to the top plate I 5.

The transfer of heat from the relatively hot liquid refrigerant accumulated in-the float valve casing 31 is minimized by a flexible heat insulating shield extending about the portion of. the casing 31 which projects into thecompartment |2. A molded flexible rubber boot 41 forms the heat insulating shield. The rubber boot is provided with a cup-shaped open top bodyl portion 48, the interior diameter of which is slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the casing 31. An opening 48 isformed in the bottom of the casing 31 through which the outlet 50 of the casing 31 extends. A peripheral integral flange 5| extends about the top of the boot 41, the rear portion 52 of the ange 5| being offset downwardly withv respect to the front portion thereof in order to conform with the offset configuration of the rear vportion 53 of the top liner I5, shown in Fig. 4. The ange 5| on the boot 41 is vprovidedwith a groove 54 vtherein extending about the same which receives the edge of the top liner I5 about the aperture 38 therein. The rear portion 52 of the ange 5| is secured to the rear portion of the flange I8 formed on the rear wall of the inner liner II by machine screws extending through `holes 55 in the boot 41 and registering holes formed in the flange I8. The boot 41 thus lforms a good seal about the edges of the aperture 38 and the top liner I5 and the adjacent portion,

of the top of the inner liner effectually preventing the leakage of warm air therethrough.- 4,5 The sides of the hole 43-formed in the bottom of the boot 41 closely engage the lower extension 50 formed on the float valve casing 31 in order to prevent the leakage of warm air into the compartment I2. Since rubber is a comparatively poor conductor of heat, the transfer of heat from the relatively hot'liquid refrigerant contained in the float valve casing 31 to the contents of the cooling compartment I2 is minimized by the boot 41. 'I'he boot may be readily molded from rubber, or other flexible Vmaterial, and inserted in place during the assembly of the refrigerating machine. Its use obviates the necessity of providing a more complicated form of sheet metal top plate to conform to the bottom of the fioat valve casing 31 and provision of suitable insulation surrounding the same, or a, construction in which the top plate and cover of the cabinet are spaced apart a greater distancev in order to provide space for the float valve chamber 31.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified form of top plate which may be substituted for the top plate I5 shown in Fig. 1. The top plate shown in Fig. 5

shaped boot 63 made of rubber or similar exible insulating material. The rubber boot 63 is provided with an offset portion 64 adapted to receive an inlet yconnection for the float valve casing which is fitted in the boot. A peripheral flange 5 65 extends about the upper edge of the boot 83 and is provided with a groove 66 extending thereabout.` The adjacent edges of the recesse's 6| and 62m the plates 56 and 51, respectively, are placed in the groove 65. It will be seen that the 10 plates 56 and 51 may be Iremoved from the top of the cabinet after disengaging the bolts 68 upon moving the plates laterally out of engagement with the boots 63 without disturbing the latter and the float valve casing contained therel5 in. The ends of the flanges 58 and 59 are spaced from the edges of the recesses 6| and 62 to provide space for the flange 65.

In the operation of the machine described above compressed gaseous refrigerant is supplied to a 20 natural draft air cooled condenser 65 from a suitable refrigerant compressor or the like which may be located in a machinery compartment adjacent the bottom of the cabinet. The condenser 65 is supported on the exterior side of the rear wall 25 of the cabinet by a bracket 61 which is secured to the rear wall of the shell I8 by a bolt 68. The refrigerantliquefied in the condenser 66 is forced into the float valve chamber 31 through a conduit 69 under the pressure exerted thereon by the 30 refrigerant compressor. The liquid refrigerant accumulated in the float valve chamber 31 flows therefrom through the outlet extension 50 and supply conduit 10 to the refrigerant circulatory passages 35 of the evaporator 3|. of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator 3| is controlled by the float valve located in the oat valve chamber 31. The header 36 of the evaporator 3| is maintained about -half full of liquid refrigerant, the circulatory passages 35 of the evapo- 40 rator 3| thus being maintained flooded with liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant contained in the evaporator 3| is vaporized by the absorption of heat from the contents of the cooling compartment I2 and the vaporized refriger- 45 ant is collected above the level oi the liquid refrigerant in the header 38. The vaporized reifrig-Y erant thus accumulated in the header 36 is returned to the refrigerant compressor through a conduit 1| which communicates withthe header 50 36 above the level of the liquid refrigerant therein. The conduit 1| extends about the float valve chamber 31 in heat exchange vrelationship therewith in order that the cold vaporized refrigerant in the conduit 1| may be utilized to cool the rela- 5 tively hot liquid refrigerant in the float valve casing 31.. It will be noted that the conduits Stand 1| extend through a slot 12 formed in the rear portion of the flange 20 on the shell I0, a rubber gasket 13 being positioned on the portions of the 60 conduits 68 and 1| adjacent the sides of the slot 12 in order to protect the same from damage. The portions of the conduits i8 and 1| adjacent the top of the rear wall of the cabinet are covered by a molded rubber sleeve 14 which protects the o5 portions of the conduit extending through a slot 15 formed in the rear portion of the flange 2| on the cover I6. y

While I have shown-a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a refrigerating 70 machine of the householdtype, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular cony struction shown and described 'and I intend, in the appended claims, to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention, u

'I'he admission 85 What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A refrigerator including a heat insulated cooling compartment having an aperture in the top wall thereof, means including an evaporator mounted in said compartment for abstracting heat therefrom, means including a refrigerant accumulator for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, said accumulator being located in said aperture and having the lower portion thereof extending into said compartment, and means in'- cluding a shield of flexible heat insulating material surrounding said lower portion of said accumulator extending into said compartment for.

g the transfer of heat from the liquid ulator for supplying liquid refrigerant to said4 evaporator, said accumulator being located in said aperture and having the lower portion thereof 'extending into said compartment, and means including a shield of exible heat insulating material surrounding said lower portion of said acy cumulator extending into said compartment for minimizing the transfer .of heat from the liquid refrigerant in said accumulator to said compartment.

3. A refrigerator including avheat insulated cooling compartment having an aperture in the top wall thereof, means including an evaporator mounted in said compartment for abstracting heat therefrom, means includinga float valve and refrigerant accumulating casing therefor for maintaining said evaporator flooded with liquid refrigerant, said casing being located in said aperture and having the'lower portion thereof exr tending into said compartment, and means including a shield of exibleheat insulating material surrounding said lower portion offsaid casing extending into said compartment for minimining the transfer of heat from the liquid refrig erant in said casing to said compartment.

4.' A refrigerator including a heat insulated cooling compartment having a sheet vmetal top plate forming'the interior top wall thereof, said top plate having an aperture therein adjacent the rear edge thereof, means including an evaporator supported on the lower 'side of said top plate for abstracting heat from said cooling compartment,

' meansincluding a fioatvalve and refrigerant accumulating casing therefor for maintaining said evaporatorv flooded with liquid refrigerant, said casing being located in said aperture and having the lower portion thereof extending into said compartment, and means including a shield of flexible heat insulating material surrounding said lower portion of said casing for minimizing the transfer of heat from the liquid refrigerant in` said casing to said compartment.v 5.-A refrigerator including a heat insulated cooling compartment Ihaving an aperture in the top wall thereof, means including an evaporator mounted in said vcompartment for ab-l stracting heat therefrom, means including a refrigerant accumulator for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, s aidaccumulator being located in saidv aperture and-having .theA

lower portion thereof extending into said com-l partment, and means including a molded iiexible 'rubber boot surroundingsaid lower portion of said accumulator for minimizing the transfer of heat from the liquid refrigerant in said ac- 5 cumulator to the contents of said compartment.

6. A refrigerator including a heat insulated. cooling compartmentffhaving a sheet metal top plate forming the interior top wall thereof, said topplate having an aperture therein adjacent the rear edge thereof, means including an evap-v orator supported on the lower sidey of said top plate for abstracting heat from said compartment, means including a refrigerant accumulator for supplying liquid refrigerant to said 15,'

evaporator, saidv accumulator being located in .said aperture and having the lower portion thereof extending into said compartment, and means including amolded exible rubber boot surrounding said lower portion of-said accumu- 20 lator and secured to the edges of said top liner surrounding said aperture therein for minimiz ing the transfer of heat from the liquid refrigerant in said accumulator to said compartment,

said boot being` spaced from said accumulator. 25.

7. A refrigerator including a heat insulated cooling compartment having a sheet metal top plate forming the interior top wall thereof, said A top plate having an aperture therein adjacent the rear edge thereof, means including an evap- 30 saidl accumulator-for minimizing the transfer 40 of heat from the liquid refrigerant in said accumulator to the contents of said compartment. said boot lbeing provided with a peripheral flange surrounding the upper edge thereof, said flange having a groove. therein adapted to re- 45 ceive the adjacent edge of said aperture in said top plate. v

8. A refrigerator including a heat insulated cooling compartment having a sheet metal top plate forming the interior top wall thereof, said 50 top plate having a recess in the rear edge thereof, means including an evaporator supported on the lower side of said top plate for abstracting heat from said cooling compartment, means in- Y cluding a refrigerant accumulator for supplying 55 liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, said ac-= cumulator being located in said recess and having the lower portion thereof extending into said compartment, means including a molded exible' cupshaped rubber boot surrounding 60.

said lower portion ofsaid accumulator and spaced therefrom for vminimizing the transfer of heat from the liquid refrigerant in said ac cumuiator to said compartment, said boot being provided with a flange extending .about the 65 v upper edge thereof and having a groove therein adapted to receive the adjacent edge of lsaid recess ln said top plate, and means for securing the rear portionof 'said flange' on said boot to the adjacent portion of the rearwall of said 70 compartment. l

9.` A` refrigerator including a heat insulated cooling compartment, a pair of sheet metal plates forming the interior top wall 'of said compartment. said plates being provided with compled mentary recesses therein, means including an evaporator mounted in .said compartment for abstracting heat therefrom, means including a refrigerant accumulator for supplying liquid 're, frigerant to said evaporator, said accumulatorA being located in said complementary recesses and having the lower portion thereofv extending cooling compartment, a pair of sheet metal .Y

plates fox-ming the interior top wall of said compertinent, said plates being provided withcomplementary recesses in the Vadjacent edges thereof, means including an evaporator mounted in "said compartment for abstracting heat therefrom, means. including a refrigerant accumu- I'lator for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, vsaidi accumulator being located in said complementary 'recesses and having the lower portion thereof extending into said compartment, and means including a molded flexible rubber boot surrounding the lower portion of said accumulator and engaging the adjacent edges of said complementary recesses for mlnimizing the transfer of heat from the liquid refrigerant in said accumulator to said compartment.

DONALD H. GASTON. 

